She lay on the coarse sand of the beach, the wind gently moving across her skin. The sun shone down hotly even through the extensive U.V. nets overhead. The warmth baked into her bones. Bones too long cold from the office and city she had spent her life in.

The sun was hot but the water had a chill to it. Her feet were at the water line now, so the waves lapped refreshingly on her legs. Sometimes though they came higher and caused her to have a sharp intake of breath.

She would go inside soon, she promised herself. The goop was turning purple, warning of its decreased blocking capacity, but she was enjoying the bake.

She thought of her freind Glann, and said a silent "Thank you" for him wrenching her away from her business and "ordering" her to his beach house. She had no holiday home to go to, not having taken a holiday since Dazis had died. Died and left her the business. Small and teetering it had required all her efforts to turn profitable. Efforts she put in to show the silent scoffers, efforts she put in as a living symbol of her love for him.

The company was now successful, in fact was a major player on the planet. The only company to rival her was Glann's. Their companies were sometimes rivals and sometimes allies in the business field. But Glann had always been a true friend.

In the early days Glann had given her a lot of advice, not all she'd taken, but she'd grown to trust his judgement, then he'd grown to respect hers. It was a tough business, involving off world deals in very diverse market places.

"I really must go in." she thought and stirred, seeing out the corner of her eye a dark figure. She turned quickly in disbelief and found herself looking at a brightly shinned pair of shoes and the legs of a business suit.

Thoughts rushed through her mind, Who was this? Why was he on a private beach? And just how long had he been standing there silently watching her?

He cleared his throat.

"Can I help you?" she said harshly, then amended "I mean are you lost, who are you looking for?"

"No one, I'm looking for a beach house and by my directions, this is it. May I ask why you are here?"

She was feeling at a distinct disadvantage, lying on the ground and staring at his feet. She liked to read peoples expressions, and while the manner in which he spoke clearly indicted he was not happy to see her there, she was sure she could read him better if only she could see him. However standing up would mean parading with sand stuck all over the goop on her front. She could not risk brushing the sand off for fear of the sun. About now she wished she'd brought a towel with her. Dispite this she was going to have to go inside and very soon, so standing to her full height she looked him in the face.

The words she was about to speak dried in her mouth unspoken. He was a native! A native, in a business suit, on a beach. No goop on his face - none was needed of coarse. A more ludicrous scene she could not have imagined.

"I asked you what you were doing here!" he repeated. "I have an important business meeting here and I'd appreciate you leaving the area. This is a private beach, as I'm sure your aware."

She shook herself internally and composed herself. "I am aware! Are you aware that this is the property of Glann Vhimmer's, surely you've heard of him, and you are tresspassing!"

"I am not tresspassing. I am the Assistant Vice President of Vhimmer Voss, and you are?"

"One, Glann does not have an Assistant Vice President and Two I am a very good friend of his and know all his top staff and I don't recognise you. I don't know what your trying to pull here, but I'd appreciate it if you'd leave." She spoke as one used to being obeyed. She deliberatly avoided giving him her name. His eyes were dark and expressionless. His skin light for a native. Maybe he was a half cast, she thought, musing if interbreeding were possible.

He broke her thoughts, "I think we need to call Mr Vhimmer and straighten this out."

"Okay." She did not want him in the house, but she couldn't stay out here a minute longer. His eyes were impossible to read, but he seemed sincer. May be a call to Glann would get him out of here. She walked towards the house with a confidant stride despite her lack of ease.

Passing the control pole she tapped the close button, without checking if he was inside the boundry. The dome slid shut, reducing the dangerous U.V. rays to nil. Lights came on, and she was back in a city environment, safe dark and somehow cold.

She walked to the outside shower and de-gooped, wondering if he were spying on her. She knew she was considered beautiful. Perfect white hair, skin and eye's, delicate features and an athletic body. She was, on Tandou, the perfect woman. Still, she thouht, a gentleman wouldn't gawk. She didn't look to see if he was, didn't want to give the impression that it concerned her, if he was.

She reached for the towel to dry herself, and turned to go inside. He wasn't there. She went in the back way, slipped into her bedroom and changed out of her swim wear and into some clothes.

She considered her option in appearance, should she dress high powered and go head to head with him. She had such an outfit with her, for an appointment the day she returned home. Perhaps an sensual outfit to throw him off guard? However she settled in the end for a casual outfit. Which would say, I'm living here and entirely comfortable. This is my home enviroment.

She entered the open plan living areas and found him sprawled on the couch, looking very much at ease. He had even helped himself to a drink! Oh well, never to mind, Glann would have it sorted soon.

She picked up the phone and was about to dial, when he waved that he was already on his phone.

She watched him for a moment, it was obvious to her that he was on hold, the little twitch at the side of his left eye betrayed his tension. He was acting cool but her practiced eye could see otherwise.

She had Glann's direct number. She picked up the phone. She'd show this upstart who waltzed in here. She dialed the number she knew by heart and got his beeper, left her number and went to the kitchen to make herself a drink.

It wasn't long and Glann had phoned her back.

"Hello, Leithie, hows the holiday?"

"The holiday's fine" she said. What she wanted to say was the holiday was great until this goon showed up who insists he has a meeting HERE! But the Goon was in ear shot and she had manners, even for natives. So she continued cooly, "I have an unexpected visitor, who thinks he has a meeting here. I've tried explaining that this is your beach home and I'm your guest here for another 2 weeks but he's very insistant. Claims to be an Assistant Vice President for you." "Leithie, Leithie. Take a breath." he placated, "He's a nice young man, give him a chance."

"What do you mean give him a chance? Give him a chance at what? She moved out of earshot and into the kitchenette.

"Come on now, just be nice to the guy. You can do that. Your nice to me, why..."

"What are setting up here?" her temper was fraying but she held in in tight check, "Your again matchmaking aren't you? she accused. "Just how despirit do you think I am? He's a native!"

"Hey Leithie, that doesn't sound like you. You never shown any zeophobia before. Why you mix with far more alien races than he, he's humanoid after all. I know you don't like my matchmaking but just get to know him, that's all I'm asking."

"What if I don't want to be matchmade! What if it's too soon after Dazis? What ..."

"Dazis died 5 years ago." he said patiently as he had may times before. "Five years Leithie, it's not healthy, for a young woman like you. Any way if you won't befriend him for me befreind him for business reason's. I've got good feelings about this guy. I've got him in Management Training. This guys got something special I'm sure of it. Use the time down there to get to know him."

"Just how long is he staying? I mean you may be stuck on this latest 'son' of yours, but I don't have to like the native."

"That was low Leithie." She could hear the hurt in his voice and regretted the dig.

"I'm sorry, I know you miss them. I shouldn't have. I ..."

"Apology accepted." he said, "Just put Shahn in a spare room there, he's staying a week. Try pretend he's and Dracgorian, or a Fratluthian or something, your great with them. Honestly I can't understand your reaction."

"What do you mean you don't understand my reaction, I'm not the only one who feels this way about them, you know. They live in mud houses, outside in the sun, they have no technology, they won't teach their children about the real world so the government has to do it for them. I mean honestly, a Dracgorian may look different but they live in the real world, care for their children, they teach them. It's entirely different." she paused, "A week? He's staying here with me a week?"

"Come on, what harm can be done? Just one week. If he starts eating children or anything else you can always come home. Have you ever known a Nauvenuan before?"

"No" she said sighing.

"Well don't you always tell people that you never know until you know?"

"Yes, but some ..."

"I'm just asking you to get to know the man, that's all."

"Alright already, he can stay at your beach house I suppose."

"Why thank you Leithie. Well got a meeting, got to run, see you soon, Bye!"

Bye Glann, see you soon." she hung up the phone and turning saw Shahn standing there behind her. Pervert she thought, nosey, sneaky ... ahrh! Sweetly she said "Oh Shahn, Glann said I'm your meeting and your staying a while, I'll show you your room. Get your self some tea when you get hungry there's plenty in the cupboard. I'll be back late so don't wait up. We can get together some time latter, you do understand don't you, but I didn't realise you were coming." There she thought she had been plesant but could be out of the place till late evening and avoid any further contact with him today. She'd also used his name, she wondered if he knew her or if she had the advantage over him.

"Where are you going?" Shahn asked. "I'll come too, get to know the area."

"No no, you've had a long trip, you deserve a rest, just relax here, you know take some time for yourself. There's really not much her, couple of pubs that serve food, few shops and of course the landing strip where you'd have come in."

"I drove in." he said, "So I've seen nothing to date, I'd rather go out and shake some of the miles off me than sit round, so I'll join you if you don't mind."

"Not at all." she said softly a husky note to her voice.

Just let him try she thought smuggly. She was using Glann's guest car, even here he spared no expense. The car was as new as her own back home and would blitz anything on the road.

"Just follow me" she said as sweetly as she could.

"Not a problem, be right there"

She moved unhurriedly but with the minium of movements so she was quickly at the car. She slid in, closing the door tight behind her and checking for light leaks. Once she was out of the shed there would be nothing between her and the burning sun. She turned on the car monitors and opened the garage doors almost simultaneously and starting the car even before the monitors had started showing pictures. She gunned it ou the shed and was off down the road. She was disappointed to see a black car following close behind on the rear monitor, and cursed a little under her breath.

she gunned the car, she had had some fun this past week navigating off road and testing her skills at high speed. Deciding to give Shahn a ride he'd remember she went off road and head for the roughest place the car could handle.

The black car dropped back a little but then seemed to hold the gap. She push ed her driving ski lls to the extreme as they neared the township and was please to see she had lost him . She skidded out back onto the road and put the car on auto glide.

She decided to go to the workers bar. She'd been there a few of times this week as it was not the tourist season and the tourist restaurant was slow or empty the nights she'd popped her head in the check it out. The guys at the workers bar leered at her but she could handle them, and the more she had to handle the less time she'd have to spend with that native; Shahn. Now she was by herself the thought of spending time with him seemed even sicker. She opened her hand bag and put on the dress she would wear to the workers bar, it was made of red leatherette and would ensure she had some attention. There wasn't much room in the car for changing, but with the car on auto pilot it was just possible with a lot of wriggling. She brushed her hair, it was spectaular enough that she never felt the need to adorn it. It was always whiter than the most bleached hair and had a kind of luminescence about it that caught the eye.

Leithie entered the township and took manual control of the car, looking in all the monitors for any sign of the natives black car. There was no sign. Driving into the outer disembarking foyer she waited for the doors to close and slid from the car, leatherette squeaking on the car seat, as she emerged.

Confidently she walked forward to the main doors. However she nearly stopped in her tracks as Shahn walked out to greet her one hand behind his back.

"These are for you", he smiled, "as we were coing through the meadow I saw them and I just had to stop and get you some."

"Meadow?" she queried, "It's all deresrt out there."

" Oh no, there's a beautiful meadow out there filled with flowers. If only you didn't have to ride an a windowless car, and your eyes could see in the real light, you could see them." He pressed the flowers forward till she had to take them.

The flowers were small and colourful, nothing like the large hothouse flower available in shops imported from neighbouring planets. Their thin stalks fortold of flowers that would soon wilt, but she felt the growing silence demanded a response from her. "Thank you," she said in her best formal voice, pulling the flowers closer to her nose pretending to admire them as a good hostess should. The smell was faint but haunting, she felt reminded of a memory she could not yet recall. She breathed in the flowers sent again and felt the memory was warm and happy but could not place it. "Thanks," she said half sighing and relaxing for a moment. The memory tugged at her and intrigued her. So instead of carrying the flowers round with her where they would surely die before the night was out, she gave them to the bar tender to place in water till she left.

Her entrance, drew cat call from round the room and she bowed to the each in turn a mischeivious grin on her face. She was going to enjoy tonight. Scanning the workers here tonight she decided to first sit by Len. Len was the oldest here and would leer at her as much as the others but was sweet to her, and the lingering feeling the flowers smell had left her with made her feel more like sweet leering Len, than tangling of wits with some of the younger workers. She'd only go rack them up she decide if monkeyman Shahn hung round her too much.

She let Len buy her a drink and then she brought them a meal. Shahn was talking to someone up at the bar, which was fine by her.

Len had worked at the resort for many a year and had tales to tell of the rich and famous, he was always discrete and never named names but the stories were entertaining anyway. It never ceased to amaze her how he could reel out story after story and never seemed to repeat himself.

Len had just finished a story about when he had been pruning a hedge and this woman came home and as he had been half hidden behind the hedge mistaken him for her husband and taken actions she might not have with anyone other than her husband. Len went up to the bar to replenish the drinks. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Shahn get up and head toward her. She made sure she did not look directly at him and acknowledge she'd seen him move, but winked at Charlie and smiled invitingly. Charlie was closer and had lost no time in moving. So she was on the dance floor before Shahn was half way to the table. The music was a couple of seasons old and beat and pulsed, she threw herself into the music. Despite being affluent she did not move with the stiffness of the rich, but a liquid fluidity born of the earth.

|Chapter|Two|